Press Release

Tanduay president Lucio “Bong” Tan, Jr. has been actively supporting grassroots sports through aninitiative known as Tanduay Athletics. Tan is the backer of Batangas Tanduay Athletics that is now the team lording over the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) founded by Sen. Manuel Pacquioa.

The league replaced a former regional basketball league that supports grassroots basketball. Beyond sports, Tan is also passionate about green initiatives. He himself was on top of the transformation to a zero-waste facility of Absolut Distillers, Tanduay’s alcohol distillery based in Lian, Batangas. The facility bagged numerous environmental awards, including the prestigious Green Apple Awards, an annual international campaign to recognize, reward and promote environmental best practices around the world. Absolut Distillers is the only local distillery to have received this award up to this day. The company likewise has since been a recipient of awards by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for their outstanding environment conservation practices.

“We understand the need to lessen our impact by making our operations cleaner and greener. We do not just want to make the best rhum in the Philippines, bet we want everyone to know that our rhum is made with good intentions and we hope to improve our operations year after year,” Tan continued, adding that, they have started investing in solar energy as a cleaner alternative as well. “We want our consumers to know that every bottle of Tanduay that they drink is made from green intentions and green energy.”

The Tanduay president further shared that the concern for the environment sprang from the knowledge that the distillery industry is considered as one of the dirtiest. “Before we took over Tanduay, there have been cases filed against its practices pertaining to pollution. We said, let us clean up first. We started investing in technologies that we are using in our Absolut distillery in Batangas in order to reduce our carbon footprint. It was a long process, and we did it.”

Now, Tan would like to bring public attention to a project he started in 2011 to protect what little is left of the old Boracay. The island has been noted as one of the world’s top destinations, but it has encountered controversy lately due to the amount of pollution that has been plaguing the once-pristine paradise. There are talks of a government shutdown to tourists in order to rehabilitate the natural landscape. Tan pioneered the project “Roots for Boracay” to save the last mangroves in the island.

“When we first got there, we already saw the amount of solid waste that lay among the mangroves. Before we started reforesting the area, we needed to have it cleaned up,” Tan revealed. He noted that if the mangroves have not been cut down indiscriminately, the problems being faced by Boracay today would have been much lesser. There would be no need to set up expensive artificial waste treatment facilities for the island’s recovery, as the mangrove roots will naturally filter water waste. According to him, Boracay is far from any of his business interests, but the need to respond to an impending crisis was what drove him to act.

“It took awhile to bring together the various people who will help us in our quest to get hold of the right to implement our project to clean up and re-plant in order to stop the continuous degradation of the mangroves in that area of Boracay,” Tan further related. But Tan had the right man on his side to make sure his visions will be realized. Gerry Tee is the chief operating officer of Absolut Distillers. He is the same person with whom his father Lucio Tan Srr. entrusted the green transformation of the Batangas alcohol distillery. With the help of Tee, they engaged the Tan Yan Kee Foundation led by Philip Sing to gather a 200-strong workforce that began the clean up efforts in Barangay Manoc Manoc, where the mangroves are located. They have gathered four truckloads of garbage by the time they finish cleaning the mangroves area.

“To protect Boracay, it is important to go down to its roots. In this case, we seek the last frontier of Boracay – the mangroves. It is where the fish and other sea creatures get nutrients, it is where life starts. Without the mangroves, the island would also cease to exist, as it protects the island from typhoons. The beautiful fine white sand will go back to the sea because their roots are the ones holding the island together,” Tee explained.

He added that aside from building the infrastructures and replanting mangroves, the mission of the project is to showcase that part of Boracay that is often neglected, so people can know what it takes to protect the beaches that tourists love so much. The project had partnered with the local government unit, the DENR and concerned non-government organizations to come up with a sustainable development in the area which involves the locals, educating them about the importance of the mangroves to their island. “So much has been cut down to make way for real estate, others cut them down for firewood. A portion is also dying out, because a road development cut off water supply. With Roots For Boracay, people have begun to understand what needs to be done,” said Tee.

The Tanduay executives underscored that it is not about the company, which has also instituted other environmental campaigns in partnership with the Tan Yang Kee Foundation such as The Canopy Project, which replants trees in the denuded forests in the North. “Boracay is only part of the market for Tanduay, we are more concerned about our legacy. It is not about Tanduay, it is about the locals – their subsistence, their livelihood, and their existence. Tanduay is just there as a vehicle to raise awareness,” Tee said.

They cautioned that if the lack of concern for the environment continues in the name of profit, Boracay will not be the only one. “If Boracay is closed down, people will move on to Palawan. This has happened before, just look at how Matabungkay deteriorated,” Tee admonished. “The issue is lack of awareness, and we are trying to address that with our project.” They said that the plans of shutting down Boracay will hurt a lot, but from their perspective of what they have seen in the mangrove forest, it could be a one-step- backward, two-steps- forward situation. “It is about moving forward, and we can all help in our own little way, by doing things like picking up a cigarette butt and not throwing your garbage just anywhere,” Tee said.

“It was a directive from the Chairman, Mr. Lucio Tan to follow the concept of sustainable development, where we do not profit at the expense of the environment. We make sure that everything we do is about reducing our carbon footprint and become more independent from the environment where we do not use to dump our waste,“ Tee further shared.

Hosted by Raymond Gutierrez and Gelli Victor, the VIP Night Presentation featured the breathtaking finalist reveal, self-introductions, a hot runway presentation, the Superbods Ageless 2018 journey video that gave a behind-the-scene look at the search process, and the sensational mini fashion show presented by Zalora, with the fit and fab men and women finalists strutting their stuff and showing everyone what they got! Capping off the night was a rousing finale number headlined by Ina Raymundo and Gerald Anderson.

The finalists will participate in an exciting lineup of activities throughout the summer. The Ultimate Challenge at the Inflatable Island in Subic will put the finalists’ mental and physical abilities to the test. Sam YG and Amanda Fernandez will host the event. The Superbods Weekend will include a Zalora fashion show on April 7 featuring the finalists, the fun Underpants Run in the morning of April 8 at Filinvest City in Alabang, Muntinlupa, and the Electric Spinning Party in the afternoon at BGC Amphitheater.

On April 12, 2018, the much-awaited Finals Night will be held at the Cove, Okada Manila. The four winners of Century Tuna Superbods 2018 will each receive P500,000 in cash. They will also each receive an appliance showcase worth P250,000 from Indesit, Mabe, and Philips; an editorial campaign contract from Zalora; a training contract from Star Magic; a 1-year unlimited elite membership at Gold’s Gym; a May 2018 Mega Magazine supplement feature; P5,000 worth of Vansydical Sportswear; and a special prize from Cove.

One lucky Superbods finalist will take home a brand-new Chevrolet Trax! The winner will be selected based on the transformation videos of each candidate’s journey towards becoming a Superbod.

Special awards will also be given: Superbod Beachbod, Superbod of the Night (Best in Runway), Superbods Challenge winners, People’s Choice, Photogenic Award and Best in Congeniality.

Century Tuna Superbods Ageless 2018 is made possible with the support of Cove Manila, the official venue partner of Century Tuna Superbods Ageless Finals Night.

he way parents raise their kids during their formative years is critical in shaping their character and values, which is why love, care, happiness, affection, respect and generosity should always come to play. Jollibee brought this truth to life late last year by releasing a powerful ad emphasizing the importance of family bonding especially during the child’s first seven years.

The campaign was supported by no less than world-renowned parenting and character formation expert Dr. Michele Borba. The author of “UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World” affirms that parents should “develop a close, mutually respectful relationship” with their children for the latter to grow into wonderful human beings.

As a continuation to this advocacy, Jollibee shows proof of the premise from the kids themselves. In a social experiment video, kids were asked regarding what truly makes them happy. Their messages were so simple but truly eye-opening!

Watch the heartwarming clip here:

“We produced this video to show everyone what kids truly value, and to remind parents how quality time can positively impact their childhood more than any toy or material gift ever could,” Jollibee Marketing Director, Cathleen D. Capati said. “Being present in their formative years is very important—everyday special moments can be as simple as cheering up your son when he’s down or curling up with your daughter to watch her favorite TV show. As parents, this video is just a reminder that making our kids feel our unconditional love need not be expensive nor complicated. The simple everyday moments we spend with our kids is enough for them to feel loved, with the hope that they grow up paying that love forward”.

One way to make any bonding experience more memorable is to pair it with Jolly Spaghetti. Jolly Spaghetti, a favorite among kids and kids-at-heart, has enabled numerous parent-child bonding occasions because of its meaty, cheesy goodness bursting with uniquely sweet-sarap sauce which Filipinos can’t resist. Treasure those simple moments with family over Jolly Spaghetti Solo, priced at only P50.00* or get the Jolly Spaghetti Family Pan good for 4-5 pax for only P199. These are available for dine-in, take-out, delivery and drive-thru transactions. For more information on your classic Jolly favorites, like Jollibee Philippines’ Facebook page and follow @Jollibee on Twitter and Instagram.

There’s nothing quite like the rich, delicious aroma of the Jollibee Yumburger, as seen in the best-selling product’s latest online video starring popular teen love team and Yumburger endorsers, Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto.

The pair—popularly known among their fans as ‘JoshLia’—proves the iconic slogan ‘langhap-sarap’ in a series of fun interactions with Jollibee diners and their favorite Yumburger. With a contemporary rendition of the mid-90’s OPM hit “O Lumapit Ka” playing in the background, Joshua follows the delicious aroma of the Yumburger, expecting it to lead him to Julia. After a couple of adorable mishaps, Julia finally unwraps her own Yumburger to help Joshua in his search for her.

Watch the humorous, mouth-watering clip here:

Langhap-sarap is more than a claim or a slogan for the Yumburger,” said Cathleen D. Capati, Jollibee Marketing Director for Flagship Category. “It’s a time-tested product truth that manifests itself as soon as you unwrap the burger. When you breathe in the mouthwatering aroma, it’s a preview of the unforgettable deliciousness that the Yumburger delivers with every bite.”

The Philippines’ number one langhap-sarap Yumburger is a true fast-food classic that has captured the hearts and thrilled the taste-buds of Filipino diners for decades. At the core of the Yumburger is a 100% pure beef patty packed with meaty, savory flavors and complemented by Jollibee’s special burger dressing and soft buns.

Satisfy your langhap-sarap Yumburger craving at the nearest Jollibee store! The Jollibee Yumburger is available for dine-in, takeout, delivery, and drive-thru transactions in all Jollibee stores nationwide, with prices starting at Php 32.00* (solo). For more information on Jollibee products and promos, like the Jollibee Philippines Facebook page or follow @Jollibee on Twitter and Instagram.

The previous video, released late last year, gave viewers a glimpse of how a creative team brainstorms for a potentially viral ad, bringing together Anne Curtis’ wacky self, local pop-culture references and the 1970’s song hit “Loving You” to humorously promote the product.

This fresh new video takes us behind-the-scenes once again with the same creative professionals, who take their brainstorming session to the next level to give justice to the product’s winning recipe. Pitching fun, exciting and award-worthy ideas left and right and bringing to life Queen of Pop Sarah Geronimo’s “Tala” anthem, the team envisions Anne Curtis donning a Maria Clara-esque persona, an Amazon Warrior and a Space Adventurer. The team’s outrageously creative process aims to take that leap from a viral video to an award-winning ad, with each scene showing why Jollibee Burger Steak is delicious and well-loved.

Watch the side-splitting clip here:

The video highlights Jollibee Classic Burger Steak as a winning ulam, offering beefy-saucy linamnamgoodness with its 100% beefy patty and flavourful mushroom gravy. Visit your nearest Jollibee branch and enjoy a delicious Burger Steak with steamed white rice for only P50.00*, available for dine-in, take-out, delivery and drive-thru transactions. For more information on your Jolly favorites, like Jollibee Philippines’ Facebook page and follow @Jollibee on Twitter and Instagram

One challenge most Filipinos face following the extravagant holidays is getting back to their budget after overspending. The new year is here so it&#39;s time to make do with our promises of turning over a new leaf when it comes to our finances.

Bouncing back from a financial setback is not as hard as it seems. By taking these steps to recovery, adapting a better way to save and spend next time will be effortless:

1. Recap your expenses to know where you start

The best way to start assessing how much you need to get back into your cash flow is taking note of how much you’ve overspent the last two months. Being aware of the gap makes it real in your head and you will most likely be motivated to spend less in the coming weeks.

This also allows you to break down how much you need to set aside each pay day so you dont get intimidated by the gap you have in your finances.

2. Tighten your belt (for now) and focus on investing

Though returning to your regular spending habits seems like something you can do after the holiday rush, its wisest to discipline your buying arm. Dont jump at the first discounts you see in malls or another best buy just yet. Instead, now could be a great time to start setting aside for the future and keeping your money safe with a unit-linked life insurance plan. BPI-Philam’s got a good array of insurance plans from their Wellness Series that meet your specific needs and fit easily in your monthly cash flow.

Unit-linked products like Life Ready Plus give you the necessary protection you need through insurance while allotting a portion of your premium on building your wealth. Keeping another set of funds you wont be able to disrupt with impulse buys grows your money better and makes sure you have it when you need it. Even better, all products under the Wellness Series empower you to live a more active and healthier life through Philam Vitality. The free program with your policy encourages activity by rewarding you with great discounts on gym membership, medical and lifestyle services, and fantastic freebies! Talk about more for less!

3. Use this time until the next holiday to improve your budgeting skills

Some people will advise you to start saving up for your Yuletide expenses as early as now so you don’t end up blowing your Christmas bonus all in one go. Others will tell you to build a holiday fund by selling items you don’t need or use, gradually growing it throughout the year.

Whatever you decide on, choose a budgeting strategy that&#39;s doable for you. By personalizing your saving style, you’ll be more flexible when it comes to setting aside money and be more creative with the money you have forexpenses.

And like the better adage says: practice makes permanent, so keep at it until it becomes an unbreakable good habit.

Lastly, it never hurts to ask. So when you find yourself scratching your head on possible &quot;How-Tos; but don’t really know what to do, BPI-Philam’s got your back. You can visit their website for some great financial tips or drop them a question on Facebook. They’ve also got financial experts in any BPI and BPI Family Savings Bank branch in the country ready to help you get more out of your money.

JobStreet.com Philippines and the Office of the Vice President (OVP) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA), forging a partnership on the #AngatBuhay program. The partnership strengthens both parties’ resolve in making employment and livelihood opportunities more accessible to the Angat Buhay programs focus communities. Angat Buhay is the flagship anti-poverty program of Vice President Leni Robredo. (In photo, L to R): Vice Presidential Spokesperson and Head, Anti-Poverty Advocacies and Programs Unit Georgina Hernandez-Yang; Vice President of the Philippines Leni Robredo; JobStreet.com Philippines Country Marketing Manager Cielo Javier; and JobStreet.com Manager for Special Projects Christine R. Sevilla. (Seated, L to R): Undersecretary Philip Dy and JobStreet.com Country Manager Philip Gioca.

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, partnered with the University of the Philippines Business League to co-present the recent 2018 National Youth Business Convention (NYBC), as part of Shopee’s commitment to empowering youths in the Philippines. The 3-day business convention held from 11 to 13 January was themed ‘Ignite Innovation. Change the Nation’, and saw over a thousand student delegates from the Philippines and across Asia Pacific gather for a series of activities and talks by various industry leaders.

The younger generation has been identified as key drivers of the Philippines’ digital economy, signalling a strong need to groom the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs in booming digital industries, and in particular, e-commerce.

“In the Philippines, we see an increasing number of younger people turning to e-commerce to start their businesses. Shopee is committed to helping young budding entrepreneurs in the Philippines take the first step towards building their own businesses by providing them the necessary operational, knowledge, skills and financial support,” said Terence Pang, Shopee’s Chief Operating Officer.

In line with efforts to encourage more youths to participate in the Philippines’ growing digital economy,Shopee hosted a 1-day case competition for students during the event, which required participants to develop a strategy to solve real-world challenges in the e-commerce landscape. In preparation for the case, the student delegates had the opportunity to interact with Shopee employees to help them better understand the various aspects of the business. The winning team, made up of 6 student delegates from top universities across the region was awarded a 3-month paid internship opportunity with Shopee Philippines, after having impressed the judges with their business knowledge and skills.

In addition, Shopee sponsored three deserving student delegates to attend the convention. The three Shopee scholars, Chelsea Agnes Haley Go from University of San Carlos in Cebu, Inad Elizabeth Lee from University of Southern Mindanao, and Ma Sheena Joshiel Olgado from De La Salle University joined 50 other delegates to participate in the case competition and a Shopee office tour.

“The e-commerce industry is booming in the Philippines and across the region, and we are pleased to see so many young Filipinos excited to be a part of it. We look forward to supporting more youth events in the future, and hope to see more Filipinos pursuing a career in e-commerce,” closed Pang.’’ Shopee is available for free download on Google Play and App Store.

Pioneer Adhesives Inc., formerly Republic Chemical Industries, Inc., is supporting one of the biggest, most-awaited festivals in the country for the first time! Get your eyes glued on the streets of Cebu on January 21, 2018, at 8 a.m. as Pioneer Adhesives Inc. participates in the annual Sinulog Festival’s grand float parade. Featured in the float will be top Pioneer products, such as Mighty Bond, Pearl Glaze, and Painter’s Buddy Skim Coat.

Apart from the float parade showcase, Pioneer Adhesives will also be a sponsor of the festival. Festivalgoers can expect a lineup of exciting activities by Pioneer Adhesives during the Sinulog weekend, including participation in the awarding of the Sinulog Festival Queen event at the Sports Complex on January 19.

Sinulog Festival is an annual cultural and religious festival held every third Sunday of January in Cebu to honor the miraculous image of Santo Niño. Drawing over three million festivalgoers,
Sinulog’s line up of activities gets bigger and bigger every year with a host of extravagant activities such as grand float parades, lively street parades, big parties and concerts. This participation in the Sinulog Festival’s float parade is one of many activities lined up for the celebration of the company’s 60th anniversary this February.

Don’t miss out on the grand float design prepared by Pioneer Adhesives on Sunday! See you at the festival! Viva Pit Señor!

One of the best gift this Holiday season is a refrigerator where you can store your Christmas groceries in preparation for noche buena with your loved ones. It is also an ideal gift for the foodie loved one’s to encourage them to make more scrumptious meals.

Entertaining comes easy with the right technological products. This holiday season, make sure to enlist the right refrigerator that will transform you into the best host; the LG InstaView TM Door-in- Door® (DID), party planning and entertaining becomes easy. With a state- of-the- art mirrored glass panel, checking the fridge for ingredients that you have to buy at the grocery is as easy as taking a peek. You only have to knock twice to see inside the easy access compartment without ever opening the door, reducing cold air loss to help keep food fresher longer. The LG InstaView TM DID® is also equipped with the Spaceplus TM Ice System. The door- mounted slim icemaker provides 20% more storage space, so you don’t have to lose your cool about running out of ice during a party. Furthermore, fresh produce stays fresh longer with the Moist Balance Crisper TM . Specially designed by LG, the Moist Balance Crisper TM is an innovative lattice-patterned box cover, which maintains the moisture in the food and vegetable section atthe optimal level. This way, impromptu dinner parties can be hassle free. For more information about the LG InstaView TM Door-in- Door®, please visit http://www.lg.com/ph/refrigerators/.